U.S. patent number 4,711,988 [Application Number 06/782,386] was granted by the patent office on 1987-12-08 for electric hair dryer with multi-mode switch for air temperature and flowrate control.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Windmere Corporation. Invention is credited to Arnold Thaler, P. C. Yip.
United States Patent |
4,711,988 |
Thaler , et al. |
December 8, 1987 |
Electric hair dryer with multi-mode switch for air temperature and
flowrate control
Abstract
A hair dryer including a blower for selectively generating a
current of air at various flow rates, a thermostatically controlled
electrical heater for selectively heating the current of air at
various heat generation rates and a switch mode switch and
associated circuitry for selectively activating the heater and the
blower and including a three position switch actuated by a single
button and having a first normal mode position wherein the heater
is activated to generate heat at a first heating rate and the
blower is activated to generate a current of air having a first
flow rate, a second cool-shot mode position wherein the heater is
activated to generate heat at a second heating rate which is less
than the first heat rate and the blower means is activated to
generate a current of air having a second flow rate which is less
than the first flow rate and a third hot-shot mode position
whereupon the heater is activated to generate heat at a third
heating rate which is equal to or greater than the first heat rate
and the blower is activated to generate a current of air having a
third flow rate which is lower than the first flow rate. A
temperature switch independent of the mode switch provides
additional control of the heater output level. An independent power
switch is provided for concurrently controlling the heater and
blower to vary the magnitudes of the heating rates and flow rates
in a correlated manner in said first, second and third modes.
Inventors: |
Thaler; Arnold (Plantation,
FL), Yip; P. C. (Kowloon, HK) |
Assignee: |
Windmere Corporation (Hialeah,
FL)
|
Family
ID: |
25125892 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/782,386 |
Filed: |
October 1, 1985 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/379; 219/486;
34/667; 34/97; 392/385 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
20/10 (20130101); F24H 3/0423 (20130101); A45D
20/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
20/30 (20060101); A45D 20/10 (20060101); A45D
20/00 (20060101); F24H 3/04 (20060101); H05B
001/02 (); A45D 020/00 (); F24H 003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;219/364,367-370,376,380-382,373 ;34/96-101,243R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bartis; Anthony
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A hair dryer comprising: blower means for generating a current
of air through the hair dryer; heater means for heating said
current of air; mode switch means and associated circuitry for
controlling said heater means and said blower means to operate in a
plurality of modes, said mode switch means being actuated by a
single button for selecting each of said modes, said plurality of
modes includes a first mode wherein said heater means generates
heat at a first heating rate and said blower means generates a
current of air at a first flow rate, and a second mode wherein said
heater means generates heat at a second heating rate lower than
said first heating rate and said blower means generates a current
of air having a second flow rate which is less than or equal to the
first flow rate.
2. A hair dryer as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of modes
includes a third mode wherein said heater means generates heat at a
third heating rate which is equal to or greater than said first
heating rate and said blower means generates a current of air
having a third flow rate which is less than said first flow
rate.
3. A hair dryer as in claim 2 wherein said second and third flow
rates are less than said first flow rate.
4. A hair dryer as in claim 3 further comprising: a temperature
switch means, independent of said mode switch means, for
controlling the heater means for selecting heat generation rates;
and a power switch means, independent of said temperature switch
means and said mode switch means, for controlling the heater means
and the blower means for concurrently selecting correlated air flow
rates and heating rates.
5. A hair dryer as in claim 4 wherein said power switch means is
for concurrently controlling the heater means and the blower means
to vary the magnitudes of said first, second and third heating
rates and said first, second and third flow rates in a correlated
manner.
6. A hair dryer as in claim 4 wherein said power switch means
varies the magnitudes of said first, second and third heating rates
and said first, second and third flow rates in corresponding
proportion.
7. A hair dryer as in claim 6 wherein said blower means includes
electric fan means for providing said current of air and said
heater means includes electric resistance heating coil means for
heating said current of air, and said mode switch means, said
temperature means, said power switch means, said blower means and
said heater means are all interconnected by an electric circuit
means for providing electric current to the blower means and the
heater means.
8. A hair dryer as in claim 7 wherein said electric resistance
heating coil means includes a primary heating coil means and a
secondary heating coil means.
9. A hair dryer as in claim 8 wherein said primary coil means
includes a first heating coil resistor and a second heating coil
resistor interconnected by said associated circuitry in parallel
circuit relationship.
10. A hair dryer as in claim 8 wherein said secondary heating coil
means includes a third heating coil resistor in series circuit
relationship with said blower means.
11. A hair dryer as in claim 11 wherein said mode switch means,
only when effecting said first mode, operates in conjunction with
said associated circuitry to essentially bypass said secondary coil
means.
12. A hair dryer as in claim 11 wherein said mode switch means,
only when effecting said second mode, operates in conjunction with
said associated circuitry to essentially cut off electric current
to said primary coil means.
13. A hair dryer as in claim 2 wherein said second and third flow
rates are about equal.
14. A hair dryer as in claim 2 where said first and third heating
rates are about equal.
15. A hair dryer as in claim 1 wherein said heating means heats the
air to a first temperature for exiting the dryer in said first mode
and to a second temperature in said second mode, said second
temperature being lower than said first temperature.
16. A hair dryer as in claim 1 wherein said associated circuit
includes a thermostat for interrupting the electric current to said
heater means when the temperature of said thermostat is above a
predetermined temperature.
17. A hair dryer as in claim 16 wherein said thermostat is
positioned within the hair dryer proximate an air current exit
thereof.
18. A hair dryer as in claim 17 wherein said button is a spring
biased trigger having first, second and third positions
corresponding to said first, second and third modes.
19. A hair dryer as in claim 18 wherein said mode switch means
includes biasing means for biasing said button towards its first
position.
Description
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to hair dryers and more particularly
to a hair dryer having a switch for selective air temperature and
flowrate control.
When hair is heated, particularly when it is wet, it relaxes and
may be positioned in a variety of shapes and easily conforms
thereto. For example, the hair may be wrapped around a hair curler
and heated. Upon heating, the hair relaxes. When the hair cools, it
sets and tends to retain the shape that it had assumed upon
relaxing. Thus, when the hair curler is subsequently removed, the
hair will tend to remain curled. This is particularly true if the
hair is wet when hot and dry when cool.
Some known hair dryers have controls to regulate the temperature
and the flow rate of the air emitted therefrom to be directed on
the hair. However, in these known hair dryers, air speeds
associated with hotter temperatures are typically too high. Thus,
when it is desired to heat the hair positioned on the roller to
relax it, some of the hair is blown away from its position around
the curler. Moreover, high air speed for cooling results in a
disruption of the hair from its position prior to setting of the
curl.
A further disadvantage of the known hair dryers is that it is
generally necesary to manipulate more than one control switch to
regulate the temperature and air speeds, usually individually
controlled. The operation of a plurality of switches increases the
likelihood that a high air speed will be selected by mistake, thus
disrupting the positioned hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention alleviates to a great extent the
disadvantages of the hair dryers of the prior art by providing a
hair dryer including a blower for selectively generating a current
of air at various flow rates, a heater for selectively heating the
current of air at various heat generation rates and a switch for
selectively activating the heater and the blower and including a
three position switch having a first position wherein the heater is
activated to generate heat at a first rate and the blower is
activated to generate a current of air having a first flow rate, a
second position wherein the heater is activated to generate heat at
a second rate which is less than the first heat rate and the blower
means is activated to generate a current of air having a second
flow rate which is less than or equal to the first flow rate and a
third position whereupon the heater is activated to generate heat
at a third heating rate which is equal to or greater than the first
heat rate and the blower is activated to generate a current of air
having a third flow rate which is lower than the first flow
rate.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved hair
dryer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved hair dryer that can be easily used to quickly heat hair to
relax it and then quickly cool air to set it.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved hair dryer with the foregoing advantages and that is less
likely to disrupt the hair during the heating and cooling
period.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a hair dryer
having a single switch for switching the hair dryer from a hot-low
speed mode to a cool-low speed mode and to a normal mode.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
readily apparent from the following description and drawings which
illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of the hair
dryer of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Refer to FIG. 1, there being shown a cross-sectional view of a hair
dryer, generally designated by reference numeral 10, according to
the present invention. Hair dryer 10 includes a blower means 12 for
generating a current of air through hair dryer 10. Hair dryer 10
also includes heating means 14 including a number of electric
heating coils for heating the current of air generated by blower
means 12.
Blower means 12 and heating means 14 are powered by electric
current, such as household alternating current, supplied through
cord 13. The electrical connections of the various components,
associated wires and certain electronic circuit components such as
resistors, capacitors, diacs, triacs, and the like are deleted from
FIG. 1 for clarity. The details of the electric circuit means of
the preferred embodiment are discussed below with reference to FIG.
2.
As discussed below, the control means of the hair dryer of the
preferred embodiment includes power switch means 16, temperature
switch means 18, mode switch means 20 and thermostat means 38.
A three position rocker switch 16, power switch means, provides
control of the blower means 12 and the heater means 14. Switch 16
has a first or "low" position for low blower speed and low heater
heat generation, a second or "off" position for cutting power off
to both the blower and the heater, and a third or "high" position
for high blower speed and high heater heat generation.
Two position rocker switch 18, temperature switch means, provides
additional control of the heater means 14. Switch 18 has a first or
"warm" position for a relatively low heat generation rate and a
second or "hot" position for a relatively high heat generation
rate.
Three position trigger switch 20, mode switch means, provides
independent control of the blower means and the heater means to
provide specialized operational modes for use in hair setting.
Switch 20 has a first position 41 for the first or "normal" mode
wherein switches 16 and 18 control the blower means 12 and heater
means 14 as described above. Switch 20 is spring biased by spring
28 to its first position 41.
Switch 20 has a second position 42 for the second or "cool shot"
mode wherein heating means 14 generates heat at a reduced rate,
which may be zero, and, preferably, the speed of blower means 12 is
slowed.
Switch 20 has a third position 43 for the third or "hot shot" mode
wherein in the preferred embodiment, heating means 14 generates at
least as much heat as in the normal mode and the speed of blower
means 12 is decreased with the result that the air blowing through
heater means 14 is heated to a higher temperature. Alternatively, a
heat generation rate lower than the normal mode could be utilized
and a higher air temperature still achieved.
In operation, hair that is preferably wet is placed in a position
for setting, such as around a curling roller. The hair is first
subjected to air blown from hair dryer 10 with switch 20 in its
third or hot shot mode position 43. Very hot air, preferably about
100.degree. to 150.degree. C. and more preferably about 120.degree.
C., at low blower speed is thus provided for quick heating and
quick relaxation of the hair. After the hair has been sufficiently
heated, switch 20 is released to the second or cool shot mode
position 42 by decreasing the finger pressure on switch 20. In the
cool shot mode, heater means 14 generates less heat and cool air is
directed on the hair to quickly cool the hair and set its
shape.
For normal hair drying, switch 20 is allowed to return to its
normal or first position 41 to which it is spring biased.
Refer now to FIG. 2, there being shown a circuit means diagram of
the hair dryer of FIG. 1. Alternating electric current such as
ordinary house current supplied via cord 13 (FIG. 1), is applied
across nodes 46 and 48.
Blower means 12 includes an electric motor M, and heater means 14
includes resistance heating coil means, including heating coil
reistors R.sub.1, R.sub.2 (primary coil means) and R.sub.3
(secondary coil means), all being connected to the alternating
electric current through the circuit.
Three position rocker switch 16 provides low, off and high
positions. In the low position the alternating current is directed
through diode 36 thereby eliminating the current flowing in one
direction and effectively cutting the current flow through the
circuit in half. Accordingly, with switch 16 in the low position,
less electric current is flowing through the circuit and heater
means 14 is generating less heat and motor M of blower means 12 is
turning slower thus generating an air current having a slower
speed.
When switch 16 is in the off position, an open circuit is created
at switch 16 and power to heater means 14 and blower means 12 is
cut off. In the off mode, power to the entire hair dryer is
interrupted.
When switch 16 is in the high position, diode 36 is bypassed
allowing current to flow in both directions through the circuit
resulting in higher blower means motor M speed, thus a faster air
current and higher heat generation of heater means 14. In the
preferred embodiment, the additional heat generated in the high
position is removed by the increased heat transfer of the increased
air flow, so that the air temperature at the exit of the hair dryer
is about the same whether power switch 16 is in the high or low
position.
The electric current to heater means 14 is further controlled by
two position rocker switch 18 and slide switch 20 in conjunction
with the circuit formed by triac 30, diac 32 and capacitor 34. The
triac 30, diac 32 and capacitor 34 are supplied in appropriate
circuit form to limit the current supplied to switches 18 and 20 of
the hair dryer circuit. In the circuit of FIG. 2, the current in
conductor 31 is a function of the current in conductor 33.
Moreover, the properties of triac 30, diac 32 and capacitor 34 are
chosen so that the current through conductor 33 is substantially
less than the current through conductor 31. By using the
triac-diac-capacitor circuit, much of the current may be diverted
from flowing through switches 20 and 18 to increase the safety of
the dryer.
When temperature switch 18 is in the warm position, current is
directed through resistor R5 as well as resistor R4, thereby
reducing the current in conductor 33 and thereby reducing the
current in conductor 31 and the current available to electric
resistance heating coils R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 of heating means 14.
When switch 18 is in the hot position, resistor R5 is bypassed
thereby the current in conductor 33 increases and thus the current
in conductor 31 and the current flowing to electric resistance
heating coils R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 of heater means 14 increase,
thereby increasing the heat generation rate of coils R.sub.1 and
R.sub.2.
Thermostat 38 is present prevent damage of the hair and the hair
dryer by interrupting the electric current flow if the temperature
within dryer 10 reaches a predetermined level. It is advantageous
to locate thermostat 38 near the exit of the hair dryer in the air
stream as shown in FIG. 1.
Spring biased three positioned trigger switch 20 controls the cool
shot and hot shot modes of the hair dryer. In the normal mode,
corresponding to the first position 41 of the trigger switch 20,
terminals 22 and 21 are connected and terminals 25 and 24 are
connected. In the normal position, electric resistance heating coil
R.sub.3 is bypassed by the connection between terminals 24 and 25
and essentially no current flows through coil R.sub.3. Electric
current is supplied to coils R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 because terminals
21 and 22 are connected allowing current to flow in conductor 33
and thus, as explained above, in conductor 31 proportionally.
In the second position of switch 20, corresponding to the cool shot
mode of the hair dryer, no terminals of switch 20 are connected. In
the cool shot mode the resistance heating coils R.sub.1 and R.sub.2
are essentially deactivated while blower means 12 generates a
current of cool air through the hair dryer. Blower means motor M
operates at a lower speed in the cool shot mode than in the normal
mode because the electric current to motor M must pass through
resistors R.sub.3 and R.sub.6. If the value of R.sub.3 is
sufficiently high to achieve the desired decrease in motor speed,
R.sub.6 may not be needed. Also, heating coil R.sub.3 is optional
and its elimination will result in essentially no heat generation
during the cool-shot mode.
In the third position of switch 20, corresponding to the hot shot
mode of the hair dryer, only terminals 22 and 23 are connected.
Heating coils R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are activated as in the normal
mode, but the blower current is supplied through heating coil
resistor R3 and resistor R.sub.6 thereby decreasing the blower
speed. In the hot-shot mode the air becomes much hotter than in the
normal mode whether the switch 18 is in the hot or warm
position.
* * * * *